SIMPHIWE SHANDU THE HUSBAND
CHAPTER 44
VIOLET
Voilet Shongie is now a street vendor. All because she was unable to shut her mouth. I swear this pregnancy is making me something I am not. I am not a bitter person. I am missing my old self. What really happened to me? I am always sour, unfriendly and just...
“Ayimalini amazambane? How much are the potatoes?” The woman asks. I lift my head up and I am just disgusted by her. I don't know why that is.
“Ten rand.” I respond looking on the side. Her presence is just annoying me to the core. I don’t know her, but her presence is carrying too much for me. She scans my face and decides to walk away without saying anything further. Maybe she did notice that I dislike her. No one seems to be buying from me today. Might as well pack up and leave. What is the use of being here anyway?
“Already going?” I hate making small conversations. Everyone around me is irritating. This womans should not dare. After I saw her pouring pink water on her spot, I am afraid to utter a word. She might make my baby a zombie.
“Yes.” I quickly pack everything up. I will have to drag my table to the corner and tie it up with this chain. In that way no one will steal it. But I trust my bodyguard.
“Need help?” Is she still here? Didn’t she see that I am ignoring her? Some people know how to make one an enemy for no reason. She should be attending to her customers that have crowded her table and leave me hell alone. Or is it pink water that is backfiring on her? It has been a struggle for two months. The more I breathe. The more everything hurts. Maybe if I did not send Mkhuleko to jail, maybe all of this wouldn’t have happened. Maybe my life wouldn't have taken this route. Looking at my life with him - I was going to be a housewife that gets to be cooked for and cleaned for. Maybe I should go visit him. Who knows. Maybe he will give something that he has hidden from somewhere. He is loaded after all. His child cannot suffer. I tuck my purse underneath my armpits and wait for that nyawope boy to help me with these bags. It’s like he smelled me from a distance. He smiles. I don’t know why he is living on the road. I should ask him one day. This is the person that makes my world go around. I absolutely don’t know in what way. But my day becomes sour if I do not get to see him. It’s like he has this some sort of magnet. I remember when I cried the whole night without seeing him. The following days I woke up so early in the morning just to smell him and see his face. After that my day went pretty well. Most people don’t understand – they find me crazy. But I know that aren't no way that I can be crazy for loving and carrying for a man that has no one in his corner.
“You are here.” I say in excitement. I see the ladies mumbling against themselves and I honestly do not care. They can gossip all they want. If it puts food on their table - I give them permission. Infact, I hire them to be my life investigator.
“Yes, I was walking past by.” He is so damn ugly, and I love him. How weird.
“Please, help me.” I speak. He doesn’t say anything but picks up my bag filled with vegetables and leads the way. I smile behind as I follow. His sweat smells of garlic which I adore the most. Would I be wrong to say I love this, Phara? His ugly teeth are like stock photos. Look at me analyzing him. I smile a bit looking at him from behind. He has a good body structure though. Maybe...
“We are here.” He always gets to leave me at the rank and makes sure that I get in a taxi. Such a gentleman. Not all these streets' kids are here to rob people but it’s just life that took an unexpected turn. Some have issues at home and running away from it actually is the best for their scenario. So, I will not judge.
“Thank you.” I handed him twenty rand. It is much more than what I normally give him. He always accepts with gratitude. I know that he is going to buy something to eat with this money. That reminds me, I forgot to dish up for him today. I top up with ten rand on top. I hope this money will be useful to him. I like the fact that he is a hustler and always willing to help without looking for something in return. He drives ingidla around – pushes him to be a better person.
“Do you know him?” A man sitting next to me asks with disgust written all over his face. I just know that his name is Sobho. That is his street name.
“Yes.” I lie. I do not know him that well. I do not even know where he is from. He doesn’t have to give me that face.
“You guys are killing these street kids by giving them money. They go smoke all this nonsense...”
“And it is not my fault that he lives on the street.” I remind him. He cannot blame me for someone else's behavior. I can see it. He is this father that gets to blame every child for another child's mistake. Stupid fool. At least my stop is here. I won't sit and listen to his nonsense.
“Ekhoneni!” I shout in violence. This old fool has turned my mood upside down. How dare he blame me for something I know none of. I click my tongue and get my tiny ass from the seat. I need to be out of this taxi right this second. I have been humiliated enough and it's not funny. I should be compensated for the harassment I have endeared as a passenger! I close the door harshly and I hear everyone complaining. It’s not like it’s brand-new combi and stuff. I drag my veggies to my shack. One thing I hate about being pregnant is that I pee all the blessed time even when I am not needed. I find this not normal, but the doctors say they find it very normal. They say we're supposed to love being knocked up, but for some of us, that’s just not reality. We’re sick, we’re tired, we hurt, we feel like elephants. Everything is just upside down for me. Am I happy? Hell no, not even close. No, this cannot be happening when I am about to reach the door of my shack. I bend over and hold a shallow scream. All I can think about is where the next bathroom is, there may be a dysfunction in the way your pelvic muscles are working. Not my terms, it’s something I was told at the clinic. To make matters worse I am all alone with no support system. I was told a full bladder could make the cramps worse. I look around and the man is looking at me.
“Push Sisi.” He is rubbing my back. I am still hung up on the ‘push’ he keeps vomiting. “Is the baby coming? I want to see the head first.” He grins and let's go of my back. I haven't uttered a word. I do not know whether to be disgusted or what? I take a deep breath when my body finally relaxes. Warm liquid gushing down my legs for a minute. I thought that my baby had popped out for a second. Immediately the smell of urine hit my nostril.
“God dammit! I hiss to myself. The man is still standing beside me waiting for action. I do not understand men at times. I continue to pull my vegetable bag when he follows behind me. He frowns looking at the spot I was standing from. I am wearing a long dress.
“Sisi. Did your water break?” he asks. For a minute he Is concerned.
“No.” I quickly answer with a sharp tone.,
“Ow, I see there. You peed on yourself.” He laughs out loud, making me annoyed. I feel like killing him right this minute. How dare he embarrasses me Infront of the low life people.
“Woah!” He walks aways and continues to laugh like a dead hyena. Stupid fool! He was not even a man enough to help me with this bag.
“Nxla!” Everything about this place just annoys me to the core. I wish I lived in the Surb. Maybe Mkhuleko would do something about it. I open the door and the steam in this house would kill me one day. What kind of shack that doesn’t even have windows. We live, I guess. Here I am still breathing and hustling. I take off the dress I was wearing. I need to soak this in water and wash the smell away. I need to also take a bath and run to prison.
